What is a person?

It’s interesting when you look at the etymology of words. It seems like the people who created language knew something and lived something that we have forgotten long ago.

For instance, what is a “person”? A human being, homo sapiens sapiens, a sentient being?

The word “person” comes from the Latin word “persōna” and Greek “πρόσωπον” (prósōpon).  In the theater, a persona was a mask used by an actor to play a character.

So, if you think the “person” who you are is all that you are, remember that the “person” you are is just a mask.

These flesh bags we have, while very enjoyable (and sometimes they cause us a lot of pain), is a character for something else.

What that something else is – is a knowing that we all have, even though it may be under layers upon layers of masks.

To define what is behind the “person” probably limits it. And what if that something and you were limitless?

Some good tries to describe it are the soul, higher self, or atman – essence, the true self beyond identification.

And funny enough, atman in Old English (æþm) means breath.

Breath – what calms you and lets you know you’re alive. What suppresses breath keeps you small.

What if your essence was one perfect inhalation and exhalation, which no mask could ever stop? 

Whenever you’re feeling imperfect in your mask, it helps to recall the perfection within it.